By Kenneth Marcos 
DA, NCI-SRD hold Cavite workshop to improve monitoring in convergence areas
CAVITE — With the goal of improving government services in rural communities, the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD) held a three-day orientation and workshop on Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (RBME) for convergence areas from September 24 to 26, 2025.
Participants from various government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (DA), gathered to strengthen their skills in tracking and evaluating the impact of development programs in the countryside. The training focused on making sure that projects reach their goals and benefit the communities they are meant to serve.
Understanding the bigger picture
The workshop centered on helping attendees understand the Theory of Change (ToC) — a method used to map out how projects lead to long-term change. Participants also learned how to use RBME tools, which are designed to monitor and measure if projects are achieving their desired results.
By using these tools, agencies can adjust their strategies to better respond to the needs of farmers, fisherfolk, and rural families.
One of the key sessions included a presentation by Ronnie Romero of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). He introduced the use of the Kobo Toolbox, a digital platform used to design and conduct surveys in the field. With this tool, collecting data from communities becomes faster and more accurate, making it easier for decision-makers to understand what is working—and what is not.
Building stronger rural support systems
The NCI-SRD is a government platform that brings together the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to deliver unified services to rural areas.
Its convergence areas are places where multiple programs are implemented at the same time to boost agricultural productivity, improve access to basic services, and protect natural resources.
With improved monitoring systems, the government hopes to avoid waste, speed up delivery of services, and ensure that taxpayer money is used effectively—especially in remote farming and fishing communities that need support the most.
A step forward for rural development
Workshops like this are part of the government’s effort to shift from activity-based reporting to results-based performance, where success is not only measured by how much was spent or how many activities were done—but by how much lives have improved.
As climate change, poverty, and food insecurity continue to challenge rural areas, tools like RBME and digital data collection will play a key role in shaping better responses.
In the long run, these efforts are expected to support a more efficient and impactful rural development strategy, helping build stronger and more resilient Filipino communities.
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